Pain from Car Accidents
4:02 AM | 
Posted by
Lynn
Whiplash Season Is Coming
During this time of year, we start getting calls from both established and new patients regarding aches and pains related to auto accidents. During a rainy commute, the number of auto accidents can be 4 to 5 times the number that occurs on dry roads. My Chiropractic office in San Diego has seen hundreds of auto accident / personal injury victims over the last 15 years.
The most common injury resulting from auto accidents is the classic neck injury termed whiplash.
Whiplash is a traumatic neck injury that results from a sudden, forceful backward / forward snapping movement of the head. The head is heavy compared to the size of the muscles that help turn and tilt your head. Because of the violent acceleration and deceleration of the head, the soft tissues of the neck are overwhelmed with the stresses of the gravitational forces. Ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasm and spinal misalignment are typical results of whiplash.
Whiplash can become a nagging, intolerable condition if left untreated. Many people make the mistake of judging the amount of injury to their body’s based on the force of impact or the amount of damage to the car. This is poor judgment. There are many factors that determine how a person is rear-ended by a second vehicle traveling 60 mph walks away unhurt while an apparently light tap on the bumper in a parking lot can cause enough pain to ruin your summer. Factors including the angle of the impact, speed of the impact, occupant awareness of the impending impact, head tilt or rotation, use of seatbelts and area of impact all play a role in why some people are injured in accidents and some are not.
Many people do believe that only high speed impacts can cause injury, however even a low-speed impact in an auto accident can cause serious whiplash injuries. Whiplash symptoms can occur instantly but typically take days, weeks, or even months to develop.
Neck pain is by far the most common whiplash symptom, along with headaches, muscle spasms, shoulder pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, and insomnia. The constant presence of symptoms can make whiplash a debilitating problem, even resulting in clinical depression.
A common problem associated with whiplash is the misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck. If left untreated, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, causing chronic neck problems in the future, including loss of range of motion, chronic headaches and arthritis.
A 1998 Canadian study on whiplash examined more than 10,000 cases of neck injuries and concluded that chiropractic adjustments are one of the only proven treatments for whiplash injuries. This study also concluded that “accepted’ treatments such as neck collars, muscle relaxers, immobilization, and rest were not helpful for whiplash victims.
More Soon
Doc
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones
Visit my San Diego Chiropractic Website to make an appointment
During this time of year, we start getting calls from both established and new patients regarding aches and pains related to auto accidents. During a rainy commute, the number of auto accidents can be 4 to 5 times the number that occurs on dry roads. My Chiropractic office in San Diego has seen hundreds of auto accident / personal injury victims over the last 15 years.
The most common injury resulting from auto accidents is the classic neck injury termed whiplash.
Whiplash is a traumatic neck injury that results from a sudden, forceful backward / forward snapping movement of the head. The head is heavy compared to the size of the muscles that help turn and tilt your head. Because of the violent acceleration and deceleration of the head, the soft tissues of the neck are overwhelmed with the stresses of the gravitational forces. Ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasm and spinal misalignment are typical results of whiplash.
Whiplash can become a nagging, intolerable condition if left untreated. Many people make the mistake of judging the amount of injury to their body’s based on the force of impact or the amount of damage to the car. This is poor judgment. There are many factors that determine how a person is rear-ended by a second vehicle traveling 60 mph walks away unhurt while an apparently light tap on the bumper in a parking lot can cause enough pain to ruin your summer. Factors including the angle of the impact, speed of the impact, occupant awareness of the impending impact, head tilt or rotation, use of seatbelts and area of impact all play a role in why some people are injured in accidents and some are not.
Many people do believe that only high speed impacts can cause injury, however even a low-speed impact in an auto accident can cause serious whiplash injuries. Whiplash symptoms can occur instantly but typically take days, weeks, or even months to develop.
Neck pain is by far the most common whiplash symptom, along with headaches, muscle spasms, shoulder pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, and insomnia. The constant presence of symptoms can make whiplash a debilitating problem, even resulting in clinical depression.
A common problem associated with whiplash is the misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck. If left untreated, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, causing chronic neck problems in the future, including loss of range of motion, chronic headaches and arthritis.
A 1998 Canadian study on whiplash examined more than 10,000 cases of neck injuries and concluded that chiropractic adjustments are one of the only proven treatments for whiplash injuries. This study also concluded that “accepted’ treatments such as neck collars, muscle relaxers, immobilization, and rest were not helpful for whiplash victims.
More Soon
Doc
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones
(619) 280 0554
Visit our Ergonomical Mouse Pad website to learn more about or Buy Ergo NavVisit my San Diego Chiropractic Website to make an appointment